Avery Dennison Introduces Wash-Off Labels for Glass and PET Bottles

Avery Dennison has introduced a new portfolio of Fasson Wash-off labels that will help brand owners reduce the environmental impact of their products by maximising opportunities for material recycling. Suitable for both glass and PET bottles, the wash-off labels provide label converters with a simple and immediate replacement for any existing wet-glue product.

“Our responsibility as a producer of wash-off labels extends far beyond our portion of the value chain,” said Jon Maley, vice president, marketing at Avery Dennison Materials Group. We work closely with our customers to develop solutions that reduce the environmental impact of the products we collectively manufacture and consume. Maximizing recycling is a great way to do that for beverage applications. ”

Developed for “no-label look” decoration of returnable beer bottles, the wash-off labels are designed to enhance the brand image of premium beers and support complex label shapes. They are suitable for body and/or neck labelling of both light and dark containers, as well as bottled water in glass and large (gallon) containers of juices and smoothies in recyclable PET bottles.

Wash-off labels have a multi-layer construction consisting of a polypropylene film that delivers excellent clarity, a PET liner and a proprietary wash-off adhesive. The adhesive is formulated for the easy removal of labels when washed in industrial brewery washers. Wash-off labels leave no adhesive residues on the bottle, nor in the washer. Furthermore, they leave no label marks or “ghosting” on the bottle. The labels wash off from 65°C, allowing for lower washer temperatures than the current average of 80°C. The labels are designed to have excellent performance in tropical and/or hot environments and are resistant to UV.

Glass bottles

The new material is ideal for any returnable glass bottle. Due to their innovative duo-layer construction and unique adhesive range, wash-off label’s two film layers expand at different rates in a hot washer. This makes the label curl for easy removal. Both the adhesive and the inks remain on the label, which allows the label to wash off without contaminating the water in the washer.

PET bottles

When Fasson Wash-off labels are used in combination with PET bottles, the high quality PET is suitable for bottle-to-bottle recycling, which helps increase productivity and improve cost-effectiveness across the value chain. After use, PET bottles and their labels are shredded, before the resulting mixture is soaked in a hot alkaline solution. The label material then separates from the PET chips, due to a difference in density. During this part of the recycling process, the high-performance washable adhesive stays with the shredded label flakes, which allows 100% recycling of the PET material.

Headquartered in Pasadena, California; Avery Dennison is a global leader in labelling and packaging materials and solutions. The company’s applications and technologies are an integral part of products used in every major market and industry. With operations in more than 50 countries, Avery Dennison serves customers with insights and innovations that help make brands more inspiring and the world more intelligent. 

Asia’s dynamic regional labeling markets: New AWA report identifies potential across the different technologies

AWA Alexander Watson Associates have extended their portfolio of in-depth regional sourcebooks covering the world’s labeling markets with thelatest edition of their Labeling Markets: Asian Market Study & Sourcebook 2012. Providing up-to-the-minute data on all the major labeling technologies, the report provides an overview that will benefit labelstock producers, material suppliers and, indeed all companies involved in the product decoration and identification value chain.Asia’s dynamic regional labeling markets: New AWA report identifies potential across the different technologies

AWA Alexander Watson Associates have extended their portfolio of in-depth regional sourcebooks covering the world’s labeling markets with thelatest edition of their Labeling Markets: Asian Market Study & Sourcebook 2012. Providing up-to-the-minute data on all the major labeling technologies, the report provides an overview that will benefit labelstock producers, material suppliers and, indeed all companies involved in the product decoration and identification value chain.

World demand for labels, by region, is now dominated by the Asia Pacific region, which commands 34% of the market. In the Asia Pacific region, glue-applied labeling technologies still take the major technology share at 38%, although pressure-sensitive labels now claim a 34% share. Prime label applications are the main growth driver, particularly for beverages and food. China (at 42% of the regional market) and India are today the most active markets for labels, but there remains huge growth potential in Korea, Taiwan, South East Asia, and Oceania.

As the largest and one of the fastest growing markets for labels, the Asian market continues to drive global growth in label volumes. The Asian label market is not a homogenous market, but is composed of markets defined by countries that show a wide range of growth rates and sophistication in labeling formats. The New AWA report not only identifies potential across the different technologies but also brings forth the exciting opportunities the Asian label market has to offer.

The AWA sourcebook documents regional preferences in label materials – paper and film – and identifies trends and forecast growth levels in the medium term for glue-applied; pressure-sensitive; heat shrink, stretch, and RFS/ROSO MD shrink sleeves; and in-mold technologies. This data is set in the context of macro market drivers, raw materials price issues, and environmental concerns.

Regional company directory

The report concludes with a directory of companies active within the region in the fields of press, die, test equipment and inks manufacture; label film and paper and release base paper suppliers; and printers. Labeling Markets: Asian Market Study & Sourcebook 2012 is a timely evaluation of a lynchpin in today’s global manufacturing markets. This report details trends in the market by label format, materials and technologies, with particular emphasis on the changing structure and developments within this key business area. It includes sections on pressure-sensitive, glue applied, sleeving and in-mold label technologies. The value chain tool is used to analyse the Asian label market for each of the technologies.

Labeling Markets: Asian Market Study & Sourcebook 2012 also focuses on materials, conversion technologies, application methods, and end uses for all label formats and on the markets and market trends.

Since 1980, AWA Alexander Watson Associates have regularly published comprehensive reports on label and product decoration markets, defining regional and application opportunities for all labeling formats. Labeling Markets: Asian Market Study & Sourcebook 2012 is the third assessment of the label market in this region published by AWA. Priced at Euro 3,800 or US Dollar 4,800, Labeling Markets Asian Market Study &Sourcebook 2012 is available now to order via the AWA Alexander Watson Associates’ website,www.awa-bv.com, where details of all published reports and the company’s complementary schedule of conferences and events are also available.

New ArtiosCAD 12 brings a new dimension to structural packaging design

With the introduction of a new major release of ArtiosCAD, version 12, Esko (www.esko.com/ArtiosCAD) offers a paradigm shift in packaging design from 2D to 3D. Providing tools for 3D design, editing, rendering and visualization, ArtiosCAD 12 assures that the viability of a package is discovered further upstream in the supply chain. It also provides new tools for packaging design and process integration to help users gain productivity and increase efficiency.

ArtiosCAD is the flagship structural packaging design editor in Esko's software suite with over 13.000 licenses sold worldwide. “It all starts with structure. The structural design determines the placement of the graphics. The package converting is determined by the structure. Structure and graphics, as well as structure and logistics, are brought together with the use of ArtiosCAD. Only ArtiosCAD offers end-to-end communication for the entire packaging supply chain,” says Richard Deroo, Esko Product Manager, Structural Design. “Our commitment to continuously improve our solutions for our customers help them fulfill increased demand to push more products to market faster, at the lowest cost, in a global market.”

ArtiosCAD 12 focuses on 3D tools and communications

Supporting Esko’s vision of shifting design from 2D to 3D, ArtiosCAD 12 brings customers many time-saving features. It has integrated the latest native 3D file import libraries from Esko’s technology partner, Spatial. This offers a speed improvement of over 50%, which means designers will spend less time waiting to import 3D models. Users will also benefit from the 3D import preview feature, allowing them to select individual parts from a model assembly. This lets the structural designer quickly and automatically build a carton around the imported 3D parts to be packaged.

In addition, ArtiosCAD helps to assemble multi-part designs and displays with a number of new time savings features. For example, with a single mouse click users can fill a carton, case or tray with the product to be packaged. This saves hours developing multi-part designs. Placement of one design within another is now easier with the new Collision Detection feature, which gives visual feedback when the two designs intersect.

"We have been asking for some of the 3D tools that have found their way into ArtiosCAD 12,” comments Chuck Pomles, Senior Packaging Design Engineer at Premier Packaging Inc. “A lot of the work we do is complex – assembled fabricated foam protective packaging for electronics companies. These can have as many as 15-25 unique components. As part of our design work, we create manufacturing assembly drawings (how to build and heat weld the pieces together) and customer packing instructions (how to use the packaging to protect the electronic components).

Creating these assemblies in ArtiosCAD 3D could take us from 45 minutes to 1½ hours to do. With the new ArtiosCAD 12 Collision Detection feature, with a click, the components are automatically placed in a box. Using the Collision Detection tool along with the Tab Slot tool, these assemblies now only take 5-15 minutes to create. For the projects we have built using ArtiosCAD 12 thus far, I consistently see a phenomenal 75% savings in time."

To accurately communicate printable areas for graphic design, ArtiosCAD 12 is able to show the flap priorities of panels. For Re-Board and multi-wall displays and designs, ArtiosCAD 12 can add edge bands for finished edge calculations and visualization, along with building reverse v-notches with partial cuts for accurate conversion of these materials.

One of the fastest growing trends in the industry is Retail Ready & Shelf Ready packaging. IGD shopper research reported that over 90% of shoppers experienced products hard to find, damaged and unavailable. This is driving retailers toward implementing Retail Ready Packaging (RRP) and Shelf Ready Packaging (SRP).

According to IGD Retail Analysis over 50% of suppliers face an increased demand for those projects. Following these trends, ArtiosCAD 12 lets suppliers quickly and easily build RRP designs and automatically create stunning 3D animations. These can accurately show user-defined perforations and tear-away designs required in RRP packaging designs, in addition to the full set of common perforations. Beta ArtiosCAD 12 customers reported saving hours of time with new automated animations of tearaways and RRP designs.

Enhanced structural design for improved supply chain communication

The concept of Intelligent Dielines in ArtiosCAD 12 is a set of editing tools that enriches an ArtiosCAD file with detailed panel information, such as ‘Copy free’, along with placeholders for barcodes, nutrition facts and other pre-defined artwork. Brand owners can use the Intelligent Dielines features to communicate brand guidelines within their technical drawings, helping to improve communications between structural and graphic designers.

“ArtiosCAD 12 is fantastic. Esko added all the features that I needed, including some 3D rendering tools I suggested to them,” enthuses Peggy Underwood, Graphic Design Manager at Corrugated Container Corp., a company that focuses on POP and displays for product packaging. “I was trained as a graphic designer and knew that Intelligent Dielines would be very helpful as we send structural designs to graphic designers and ad agencies. Before, to assure designs would be correct, I manually placed the art orientation using Adobe illustrator and explained which panels would be printed. Now it’s all done with the click of a button. This probably cuts three-quarters of the time it took in the past.”

“No graphic designer is going to feel so helpless and confused again when looking at flat structure,” adds Underwood. “Some of our projects, including sales kits with many compartments, are very complicated and it is difficult to see which of the pieces are visible in the final layout. Now, there are ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrows to show orientation in the artwork. The 3D views with arrows help designers understand why a panel is in a certain direction. And, with all the 3D tools in ArtiosCAD and Esko Studio, we are able to show our art without having to produce mock-ups. The new Array and Collision tools make packing out our displays very quick and easy, saving us a ton of time.”

Supporting the supply chain downstream, ArtiosCAD 12 supports bi-directional communication between both CAPE and TOPS palletization software packages. This eliminates the need for structural designers to re-enter data into both systems, removing wasted steps and any potential human error. Additionally the full pallet load can be visualized in ArtiosCAD 3D for high-resolution presentations and reports.

Building profitable sign & display business with ArtiosCAD 12 and 3D displays In an industry that is becoming more commoditized, sign and display shops are realizing that the uniqueness of 3D display projects offers higher margins. More and more companies are investing in ArtiosCAD for structural design. ArtiosCAD’s extensive library of resizable display designs helps designers so that they do not have to start from scratch designing new displays. The ArtiosCAD Tab & Slot tool ‘assembles’ components of a display with just a few clicks. The Mate tool helps to build and visualize connected folds and multiple parts. Users can identify glue areas and corresponding targets to quickly connect designs or perform simple assembly of displays. Curved Creases, a patent pending technology only available in ArtiosCAD, makes it easy for designers to work with curved folds and cuts by allowing them to visualize designs with curved creases as part of its 3D module. Support for thicker materials such as Re-board, along with correctly designing V-notches and edge bands makes it easier to visualize and convert designs of this material.

ArtiosCAD Enterprise: sharing structural designs in the cloud

ArtiosCAD is available in two versions: the standard version and ArtiosCAD 12 Enterprise, enabling global “cloud” sharing and collaboration with  WebCenter 12. With ArtiosCAD 12 Enterprise, all assets are centralized in a corporate private cloud, a secure web-accessible database enabling dynamic online collaboration between design groups, CAD and graphic designers, suppliers, brand owners and production. An easy to use online dashboard provides real-time feedback on project status, task lists and other parameters.  An  embedded design browser  lets users easily search designs on production dies. To maintain file and project integrity, global and template-based project and document auto-numbering and naming allows the organization to uniquely name each asset.

"I am also looking forward to the increased search ability in ArtiosCAD Enterprise, whether it is Internet or intranet based,” adds Pomles. “We have existing designs in our database and using ArtiosCAD Enterprise we now have a very quick searchable reference. While I certainly like getting design requests off the Internet, it is even a greater timesaver to be able to search existing designs. What used to take 10-15 minutes now takes as fast as I can type."

ArtiosCAD 12 is currently shipping, while ArtiosCAD 12 Enterprise will be ready for delivery in September. 

PRPflexo releases Online Estimating Program

PRPflexo a prepress services and flexographic printing plate provider based in Indianapolis announced they have released a new online estimating program for their customers. The first company to market Flat-Top-Dot plate technology back in 2004, continues its long history of innovations with a complete plate estimating program giving customers the ability to generate their own estimates, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

According to Chris Green, General Manager of PRPflexo, "We have always taken pride in our responsiveness to our customers' needs, and viewed the development of this program in the same way.   Many of our customers simply do not have time to meet with vendors to get quotes.  By offering the ability to individualize and compare plate and other product choices online 24-7, they can create just-in-time estimates themselves, increasing their productivity levels and reducing stressful timelines.  This can be especially important with today's hurried production schedules."

Harper donates anilox rolls to Clemson University

Global anilox roll supplier Harper Corporation of America has provided a donation of $16,000 worth of anilox rolls to Clemson University's Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. These rolls, which are for the Omet VaryFlex 520 press, will assist the educational facility in providing quality training to future flexographic professionals. With this donation the students will be better equipped to conduct high definition printing and specialty ink applications.

Located in Clemson, South Carolina, the Sonoco Institute offers courses in packaging science and graphic communications. The organization aims to provide the skills and knowledge that flexographic professionals need to excel in the 21st century. A one-of-a-kind research and development center, the Sonoco Institute plays a key role in pushing the technology of the flexographic industry forward.

Harper Corporation of America is grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the education of industry professionals. A company founded on innovation and quality, Harper believes that students should train with the best resources possible in an effort to provide them with the skill set that will be required in the working world. Through this donation, Harper Corporation of America demonstrates its dedication to education and its commitment to helping the flexographic community thrive.

A Golden Era for HD Flexo Certification : Southern Africa’s second largest printing and packaging group receives Esko HD Flexo accreditation

Golden Era Group, the second largest printing and packaging company in Southern Africa, is the latest operation to achieve Esko‘s HD Flexo Certification. The accreditation was presented to Managing Director Raj Chhita at the Flexographic Technical Association of SA luncheon on September 14.

“Flexographic printing has improved greatly over the last few years and the quality and productivity we can now achieve is comparable to gravure and litho,” explains Mr. Chhita. “Next to work from Southern Africa we are also winning business from companies in the UK and USA and we expect that to continue to grow as people realize the quality we can achieve. HD Flexo Certification highlights the consistency possible to help us confidently win new work.”

Golden Era is a company that, since it was founded in 1954 as New Era Paper Bags specializing in what was then called "Soweto Bags", has continually reviewed its operations. Golden Era Printers and Stationers was formed a year later manufacturing folding cartons, followed by New Era Plastics, New Era Packaging, New Era Labels and Waxpak for vacuum-formed and thermo-formed containers. Between 1988 and 1994, New Era Plastics was re-structured creating a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. Acquisitions over the years have included Mondipak Alrode, Mondipak Phoenix, Futura, Press Art and EH Walton.

Achieving HD Flexo Certification is an extension to this and has enabled Golden Era to improve its service while at the same time differentiating it from the competition. “Flexo is a more cost effective method of production. In the last few years the quality has increased as has the variety of substrates that can be printed. We are always looking at ways to enhance our service and HD Flexo has enabled us to do that.”

Mr. Chhita has a strong relationship with Esko distributor Antalis and Roshicka Govinder, marketing coordinator comments: “Golden Era joins a select group of professionals both in South Africa and worldwide who have been awarded HD certification - an outstanding achievement and recognition of the exceptional quality standards which they can obtain.”

Jacques Staelens, Esko Business Manager Middle East & Africa, adds: “Developments in flexo print quality, spearheaded by Esko, have been fast changing and far reaching. We are delighted that Golden Era is yet another high profile operation to see how our HD Flexo Certification helps customers add value in today’s highly demanding market.”

Headquartered in Gent, Belgium with R&D and manufacturing facilities in five European countries, the United States, China and India; Esko is a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging, printing and publishing and the worldwide market leader with software for artwork creation, structural design, preproduction, workflow automation, quality assurance and online collaboration. Esko solutions support and manage the packaging and print processes at brand owners, retailers, designers and packaging manufacturers.

Greater consumer protection with end-to-end product tracking for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

Grey market codes combat brand erosion and parallel trading in unlabelled cosmetics and deliver real-time checks for pharmaceutical products. The PMP (Production Management Platform) from Atlantic  Zeiser is a new scalable software solution for controlling modern production and shipping processes for pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging. Being exhibited at FachPack 2012 it is based on comprehensive product tracking (Track & Trace) and measures to combat counterfeiting (Anti-Counterfeiting) and the grey market (Anti-Diversion) to successfully counteract product piracy.

Checking, reporting and comparing: these are the basic steps involved in verifying cosmetic and pharmaceutical products and tracking them throughout the logistics chain. PMP (Production Management Platform), the new software to be presented by the Atlantic Zeiser Group at FachPack 2012, combines brand and consumer security, offering complete product tracking and protection against counterfeiting and diversion. PMP controls the entire production, labeling, shipping and returns process in line with stringent security standards. The packaging carries not only information, but also various codes and other features of branded products. At FachPack in Nuremberg on 25 - 27 September 2012, the company will be demonstrating a range of new solutions in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Find Atlantic Zeiser at Stand 117 in Hall 4.

Grey market products cost the cosmetics industry millions. They may reduce the credibility of, and inflict long-term damage to, a brand reputation built up over a period of many years. When branded products enter a parallel trade, they can be sold by discount retailers at significantly reduced prices. They create undesirable competition for premium sales channels established through major investment, and start to erode brand value.

In the case of pharmaceutical products, the primary concern is the potentially serious consequences for patients. Consumers believe they are buying a genuine product, but if it is a counterfeit, they cannot be sure of its effectiveness or what it contains.

To tell a genuine product from a fake, you need reliable verification features on the packaging that guarantee a product is genuine. PMP uses interfaces to access the relevant data on all levels of a production or logistics system and makes them available as required in real time during the individual process stages for seamless checking. PMP also offers individual reports and audit functions and comes with a built-in random number generator to create unique product ID codes that can be checked during shipping and at the point of sale.

As pharmaceutical manufacturers operate on a global scale, they are required to comply with a variety of coding specifications in different countries. PMP provides the optimum database application for complex code management, allowing the user to generate, manage, verify and track different codes depending on the country and region.

Real-time verification with PMP Track & Trace

The PMP Track & Trace software module logs all actions on every production unit or machine involved in the production process. This ensures that all data and information on ingredients used and their batch numbers, on machines, production lines, factories as well as shipping, final destination and customer can be comprehensively recorded and tracked. In addition, all actions are assigned reliable time stamps providing seamless traceability and reconstruction of the production process. Derived properties such as the expiry date or unique identification features like serialization numbers are linked directly to the corresponding product packaging.

A random number generator ensures the allocation of a unique serial number or a corresponding code. This ensures full product traceability based on the identification features assigned. The packaging data provides sufficient information for the verification process across the entire production and supply chain. The latest interface solutions guarantee secure real-time data exchange.

PMP Track & Trace also provides secure interfaces for the actual verification processes that permit the transmission of exported product codes via various media (e.g. secure Internet connection / dedicated line, GSM, etc.). PMP Track & Trace verifies that the codes received are genuine, and returns the result immediately. The data transfers are securely encrypted and carried out in real time. Modern media such as smartphones can also be used and the verification processes can be initiated from any location.

Extra guarantee with AZ Trust Centre

The services of a trust centre are often used to generate serial numbers or grey market codes, particularly if the carton printing is being carried out by a supplier. Atlantic Zeiser operates its own AZ Trust Center that guarantees unique codes for long time intervals, as well as the secure storage and management of the codes and numbers. This simplifies the processes within the production site considerably as it is not then necessary to generate these codes or ensure that the codes are unique.

To discover the company’s complete range of products, systems and services, visit www.atlanticzeiser.com

Weldon Celloplast appointed sole agent by EFI for its Jetrion industrial inkjet systems throughout India

New Delhi based Weldon Celloplast has been appointed by EFI as sole agent for its Jetrion industrial inkjet systems throughout India. It represents the significant rise in interest for next generation technology in the label and converting sector.

EFI’s series of label production systems includes the UV-curable Jetrion 4900 which combines printing and finishing in a single digital platform, in return simplifying shirt and medium run lengths and reducing waste.

Pawandeep Sahni, director, Weldon  Celloplast,  says, “This technology will enable printers  to  deliver  to  their  customers  immediately  with  digitally  printed  labels  on demand.”

Acknowledging the growth potential in this market segment, Frank Janssen, sales development  manager, EFI  Jetrion,  says, “With  Weldon  Celloplast  we have found  the  bridge  towards  the  Indian  label  industry,  and  we’re  looking  forward  to delivering the best partnerships to an industry which is expanding quickly.”

Weldon  Celloplast was established in 1982 and  specialises  in  supplying solutions and  consumables to  print  houses throughout India,  partnering  with  them  to make  the  move  from  analogue  to  digital  production.

Xeikon Signs Marketing & Referral Agreement with Tronics

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, announced today that the company has signed a marketing and referral agreement with Tronics, a manufacturer and distributor of efficient, cost-effective, high-tech machines that apply professional labeling, decorating, coding and identification marking to almost any container.

Tronics has a long standing history in the field of heat transfer label applicators; it was in the forefront of  developing this market. Until recently, heat transfer labels were only produced by means of flexo or gravure.

Today, with the need for faster turnaround and shorter run length, there has been a demand for digital printing. Labelexpo Americas attendees will be able to witness Xeikon demonstrating heat transfer label applications at the Package Printing Zone.

By adding Tronics to the Xeikon Aura Partner Network, Xeikon is expanding its Heat Transfer Label Suite. Tronics joins Moss srl, as an Aura partner within the Heat Transfer Label Suite. By using the strengths of this network, Xeikon and Tronics customers can leverage integrated solutions more efficiently.

“Plastic containers such as tubes, cartridges and buckets can be decorated by heat transfer labels as an alternative to direct print and IML (in-mould). In North America, heat transfer labels is a dominate decoration process. Producing these labels digitally provides a fast turnaround solution, with high quality decoration.” said Filip Weymans, Director Segment Marketing and Business Development Labels and Packaging at Xeikon. “With Tronics’ expansive experience in this industry, coupled with the Xeikon Heat Transfer Label Suite, label printers can deliver labels with unparalleled image quality while increasing their profit margins.”

“Our customers expect robust, reliable machinery that works, day-in and day-out,” said Frank Floriano,  Labeling Director of Tronics. “By partnering with Xeikon, our customers can expand their product offerings to tap into new markets and increase revenue. Plus, both Xeikon and Tronics customers will gain new flexibility and adaptability that the print market – and customers – demand.”

Esko launches Automation Engine 12

Esko announces full details of Automation Engine 12, a major component of the Suite 12 software for the packaging, label, sign making and display industries, which was launched at drupa 2012.

Automation Engine 12 takes workflow automation to the next level. Esko has completed the promised integration of its three legacy workflow applications - BackStage, Nexus and Odystar - into one single platform. Customers using these servers can now upgrade to Automation Engine 12 and benefit from its robust and scalable, fully database-driven framework, while maintaining their current workflows.

In addition, Automation Engine 12 achieves standout performance from all other products in the market by being the first to provide full workflow automation for jobs that combine multiple printing techniques. This allows for complete automation of complex packaging print jobs for the first time. Parameters such as trapping, preflighting and distortion can all differ depending on the printing process.  Using Automation Engine 12, a printing process can be assigned to every separation in the file if necessary.

Esko Automation Engine 12 – a new standard for prepress workflow automation

Printing professionals face the daily challenges of needing to increase quality, reduce errors and drive cost out of business and production processes. Automation Engine 12 supports them every step of the way by reaching out to business systems to ensure seamless automation from order to print, while providing dynamic production workflows that are easy to set up and operate. Further specific new features of Automation Engine 12 are:

·         Automated artwork creation of native files through comprehensive scripting support for Adobe applications (for example, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and third party tools such as Alwan.

·         Seamless synchronization between business processes and production through substantially improved integration between Automation Engine and the WebCenter packaging management solution. Also, integration with devices such as Esko’s CDI flexo CTP platesetter has been improved.

·         Complete traceability in the platemaking process - a unique plate ID ensures full  control of plates going to press and guarantees that the correct plate is re-imaged when required.

·         Improved Viewer, making it a full Quality Control tool. Extra Viewer filters allow breakout dots, flexo plate, flexo print, registration error simulation and Total Ink Coverage to be visualized.

·         Fully renewed web-based administration section enables monitoring and intervention from remote locations.

Automation Engine is a backbone component of Suite 12, and integrates interactive applications, RIPs and web tools into a single powerful solution. Customers can also purchase Automation Engine 12 as a standalone product. It delivers increased efficiency and throughput, and saves time and money for packaging and label service providers and their customers.

"Automation Engine 12 takes automation of label production to a whole new level. It is the first server framework in the market to provide full automation for jobs that combine multiple printing techniques,“ says Dries Vandenbussche, Product Manager Server Platforms.  "Its flexible scripting capability for more automated artwork creation, and the automatic synchronization with WebCenter, make Automation Engine 12 the ideal platform for complete automation from business system to plate or digital press.“

Henkel’s international student competition takes off

The sixth annual “Henkel Innovation Challenge” kicks off this September. Students from 25 countries are invited to participate. The task for the participants in the “Henkel Innovation Challenge” is to develop a concept for an innovative and sustainability-related product or technology for a Henkel brand, according to the vision and market needs in 2050. Interested students can register until December 12, at www.henkelchallenge.com.

Coinciding with the start of the new academic year, students are invited to develop innovative ideas in teams of two – for one of Henkel’s business areas: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care or Laundry & Home Care. New this year: the concepts must be in alignment with Henkel’s sustainability strategy under the theme “Achieving more with less”. Students should consider how their new product or technology will drive progress along the entire value chain – from the selection of the raw materials, through sustainable production and distribution processes, to its use and disposal.

For the first time, the international final will be organized outside Europe, in China, the home country of last year’s winners, as a sign of the growing importance of the emerging markets.

The “Henkel Innovation Challenge” is open to students of all subjects, including economics, engineering and natural sciences. Students from all over the world including teams from 12 European countries, 9 Asian-Pacific countries, 4 Latin American and North American countries will compete for a final place in the “Henkel Innovation Challenge”.

After the application period, selected students in each participating country will develop their project with the support of a Henkel manager and will present it in national or regional semi-finals.  The semi-finals will take place in February 2013. The winning team of each semi-final will get the opportunity to compete in the international final, which will be held on March 18-20, 2013, in Shanghai. The three winning teams will meet the Henkel CEO Kasper Rorsted and will receive an additional prize: the winning team will get an around-the-world ticket worth 10,000 euros, the second place will be awarded 4,000 euros and the third place 2,000 euros.

Apart from thrilling learning experiences and plenty of fun, the competition offers young talented minds an opportunity to put their acquired theories into practice and establish valuable personal contacts with Henkel at an early stage in their career. During the Henkel Innovation Challenge, the best teams will be assisted by experienced Henkel managers, who will act as mentors and advisors. Henkel stays in touch with many participants even after the end of the competition; a number of talented past participants have already been recruited in the past years.

Potential participants can gain an initial idea about the competition by visiting the website www.henkelchallenge.com and the dedicated Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/henkelchallenge, which has over 11,000 fans. It also includes videos of the finals of previous competitions.

Acorn Labels buy another Edale machine, taking the count to five!

UK based Acorn Labels have recently installed another Edale Beta flexo press at their factory based in Huntingdon. This machine brings their total number of Edale machines up to five – with the company now owning four Beta machines and an award winning Alpha compact press, all purchased within the past five years.

The company’s most recent purchase was the 330mm wide five colour Beta modular press which they are using for the production of labels for the pre-pack industry.  This latest installation at Acorn Labels now brings worldwide sales of the Beta to over 90 installations.

The Edale Beta has a number of features and benefits such as the unique web up design with a wide viewing area to enable quicker job setup and minimal waste, alongside this, fast job changes are achieved through ease of access, ergonomic design and ‘tool-less’ operation. Whilst Acorn Labels chose a five colour machine, the Beta has the capacity to incorporate up to 14 print stations and three converting stations.

Acorn Labels was founded in October 1994 and now employs 30 people, all based at their Cambridgeshire Head Office. As well as the label manufacturing and packaging side of the business, the company also have a printed tape manufacturing division.

Sam Heneker, Production Manager at Acorn Labels concludes “We purchased our first Edale press over 15 years ago – a 250mm four colour E250S refurbished press and found it extremely easy to use. A couple of years after this we purchased a brand new model, before moving to the Beta range and since then we have never looked back. The fact that Edale are a UK manufacturer is important to us as quality is always second to none; we enjoy a quick turn round in jobs along with consistently high quality precision printing”

New label solutions at Labelexpo Americas 2012

Taking place again at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Chicago, between 11-13 September, there are over 400 exhibitors taking part in this year’s Labelexpo Americas making it the ideal place for label converters, brand owners, buyers and decision makers to visit. Underlining the show’s importance to the label industry, the show’s organizers have confirmed there are over 100 new product launches scheduled to take place during the show’s three day run between 11-13 September.

Showcasing the latest in machinery and consumables, the launch highlights include:

Super Web Digital introduces the Super Web DCOMM 100 label press

Super Web Digital (booth 1637) introduced the Super Web DCOMM 100 Label Press, powered by Memjet, at Labelexpo Americas. This is the first in a series of digital printing systems that will be offered for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. The DCOMM 100 Label Press will provide label converting companies with on-demand production flexibility, reduced waste, less inventory, and the ability to attract new business from customers who have a large number of label stock keeping units. The base label press model is roll-to-roll and there are options for running in line with die cutting equipment and to retrofit onto existing flexographic presses.The small print zone makes retrofit adaptations to existing equipment feasible.

The Super Web DCOMM 100 Label Press is powered by Memjet ‘s production-class print engine which features over 350,000 nozzles (70,400 nozzles per color x 5 colors) that deliver millions of drops of ink every second. When configured with up to 5 print heads, its page-wide print head delivers 1,600 dpi native print resolution in both process color (CMYK) and spot color. This Memjet print engine can deliver speeds up to 32 inches per second (160 feet per minute). Each ink color is delivered via a 10-liter ink tank.

AzTech Converting Systems shows Colordyne CDT1600 printing system

AzTech Converting Systems (booth 1511) is showcasing its AzTech Colordyne CDT1600 Printing System with the LaserSharp V400 laser system by LasX. The V400 fits seamlessly into the CDT1600 Printing System, creating a solution that takes labels from blank raw materials to finished products in a single production line. Revolutionize your print production by adding laser processing that reduces costs and increases productivity, all in a small, cost‐effective footprint.

The V400 uses a 400 W laser beam to kiss‐cut, slit, or perforate label materials, eliminating the tooling costs inherent with mechanical dies while expanding design options to complex, intricate patterns not possible with conventional cutters. This high‐performance system has been specifically designed to take advantage of the CDT1600’s speedy print engine. To gain efficiencies the majority of label jobs can be laser converted at the printer’s top speed. Because the system’s workflow is entirely digital, production job changeover times and costs are vastly reduced. Change the job simply by opening a different pattern file. The V400 integrates directly with the AzTech Colordyne CDT1600 Printing System to finish labels after printing and sealing.

Durst announces first solvent free Metallic Silver UV Ink for digital label printing

Durst (booth 5901) has launched the new Tau 330 UV Inkjet Label Press at Labelexpo Americas 2012, as well also announced the first solvent-free metallic silver UV ink for use in a wide range of digital label & package printing decoration applications. The newly designed metallic silver UV ink can of course be used with the new Tau 330, but also with previous Tau models such as the Tau 150-8C, offering excellent print quality on a selected range of substrates, with reliable and consistent print performance, good adhesion and durability.

The new solvent free UV metallic silver ink in combination with the Tau UV inkjet label presses allows printing speeds between 20-30 linear meters (65-95 feet) per minute that go well beyond current available and established digital printing systems.

The arrival of Durst’s solvent-free digital metallic UV inkjet technology makes digital metallic printing & decoration now even economically feasible for short & medium runs, offering converters to produce attractive and creative labels & packaging while addressing the need for customized, personalized printing and respecting at the same time ecological aspects.

Neenah Paper develops authentication label targeted for verification market

Neenah Paper (booth 1553) has delivered again on its commitment to label industry innovation with a new authentication label. In partnership with Prooftag, Neenah Secure Authentication Label papers incorporate a chaometric overt security feature integrated in the paper and authenticated via Prooftag’s innovative and patented verification system. This cost effective security solution ensures that each label, tag or seal is a unique individual fingerprint for authentication. A random fiber orientation in the paper media provides an accessible solution to problems of counterfeiting and forgery enabled by Prooftag’s system for verification, along with many other possibilities for a smart label- such as track and trace and building of brand loyalty with customers.

The new security solution is designed for printers to enable web access for authentication by recording labels made on Neenah Secure authentication paper through the Prooftag LABELrec. This equipment has been specifically designed to permit the printer to handle the label registration process.

Teknek introduces world’s first biodegradable contact cleaning adhesive roll

Following on from the successful Introduction of EcoFilm adhesive rolls, Teknek (booth 1421) has announced another market leading innovation with its new Biodegradable “EcoPaper” adhesive roll at the show. The Teknek contact cleaning process uses sheeted adhesive rolls, which once consumed, have to be disposed of.  After extensive research and testing Teknek is now ready to release its new EcoPaper adhesive rolls. This now means that all Teknek adhesive roll products are environmentally friendly – a world first.

EcoPaper is the world’s first biodegradable clean machine adhesive roll. It retains all the benefits of the Teknek ARBS products – designed for contact cleaning, fully tested, fully traceable - but now it is now “green”.

Codimag unveils VIVA340 Aniflo

Codimag (booth 3429) is demonstrating the VIVA340 Aniflo. Very low plate costs, 10-minute plate making, low waste, and short make-ready make the Codimag VIVA340 with its Aniflo “keyless” anilox offset system the ideal solution for short-run label production. The Aniflo is a very unique offset printing unit on which ink is delivered by an anilox in order to get a constant and regular ink volume. The Aniflo is the right mix of flexo and offset technologies to eliminate variables (such as ink key control for example) and stabilize the print process, reducing waste and make-ready time. With offset quality and anilox stability, the Aniflo allows process stabilization and control, color management becomes more reliable. Booth visitors will have the opportunity to see four complete job changes live during the day, and a wide variety of labels, including a technical sheet with 116 PMS colors separated out of CMYKOGB.

Rotocontrol celebrates successful LeoMat integration

Rotocontrol has announced the successful integration of LeoMat, a major German supplier of processing machines for adhesive labels, foils and paper, since the company acquisition six months ago. Eighteen new LeoMat finishing machine order confirmations have been received including requests for the Digitakt Digital, Booklabel, and Overprinter.

The LeoMat Digitakt SFR is a fully modular, versatile finishing machine with a rich standard feature set and a full complement of optional finishing modules designed to complement digital printing operations. Standard with a fully integrated flexo printing station and a semi-rotary die-cutting unit including high accuracy register control, the LeoMat Digitak is suitable for varnishing, diecutting in register, slitting and rewinding of printed or blank labels.

The Booklabel machine produces booklet labels with variable shapes and formats. Featuring sturdy and solid construction with modular capability, the Booklabel is available in all current working widths up to 510mm and can be designed with numerous options including a waste paper rewind unit for the automatic winding of marked faulty print, shear and razor knife slitting, roll lifter for diameters up to 1200mm, and numerous other optional features. With the Overprinter, texts or symbols can be imprinted to precisely fit on pre-manufactured adhesive labels using flexographic printing. The machine offers reduced setup times with a capability to handle a large variety of material.

Marco Aengenvoort, Managing Director of Rotocontrol comments: "The LeoMat acquisition has proven to be a success, reflected in the eighteen orders confirmed so far. The Digitakt and Booklet machines are built with Rotocontrol S-Drive technology and control software, providing a complete solution that benefits our customers in various production environments. Rotocontrol finishing machine sales also continue to be strong, as we approach our 125th order confirmation."  

Rotocontrol designs and manufactures leading edge finishing machines for inspection, slitting, rewinding, die cutting, overprinting, digital labels and booklet labels for converters in the narrow web industry. Available globally, Rotocontrol offers machines from smaller basic rewinders to feature-rich, sophisticated models with multiple options featuring S-Drive Servo Technology enabling maximum web control for the most delicate film and foil materials.

Headquartered in Ahrensburg (Hamburg), Germany Rotocontrol maintains the highest level of product quality through ease of use, absolute control and flexibility with a focus on operator safety and efficiency. Rotocontrol is the partner of choice in the finishing of label products.

New label solutions confirmed for Labelexpo Americas 2012

Taking place again at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Chicago, between 11-13 September, there are over 400 exhibitors taking part in this year’s Labelexpo Americas making it the ideal place for label converters, brand owners, buyers and decision makers to visit. Underlining the show’s importance to the label industry, the show’s organizers have confirmed there are over 100 new product launches scheduled to take place during the show’s three day run between 11-13 September.

Showcasing the latest in machinery and consumables, label solution launch highlights include:

Avery Dennison (booth 119) is featuring a wide variety of new products that have been developed to help converters address an array of end-user market applications. New items include: Avery Dennison Shrink PS which is a pressure-sensitive label for shrink wrap bags utilized in the fresh and processed meat industries. It will also be showing a selection of wash-off labels that easily peel away in the recycling process and a new patent-pending durables film technology which has been created to eliminate the need to combine rolls of facestock and overlaminate.

Dow Corning (booth 3511) will be unveiling two new product lines. As the market continues to increase in demand for liner performance in terms of release after die-cutting and label dispensing to avoid web breaks, as well as the need for a very flat release profile release coating while remaining cost-effective, Dow Corning has developed the Syl-Off SL 181 Coating and Syl-Off SL 581 Coating. These products will allow for a flat release profile, robust cure at very low platinum levels, flexibility in formulating and inhibitor choice. It will also introduce the Syl-Off EM 7934 Coating and Syl-Off EM 7935 Coating, which will enable printers to optimize their release performance, lower costs and avoid the use of cleaning solvents.

Epson America (booth 5713) will be demonstrating its SurePress L-4033AW – a seven-color inkjet digital label press with white ink that makes high-quality, short-run label printing easier and more efficient, even on metallic and clear substrates. Delivering exceptional print quality on a wide variety of standard label substrates, the L-4033AW enables label converters and commercial printers to expand their service offering and improve profitability.

Esko (booth 5202) is participating at Labelexpo Americas with its largest ever presence. On twelve workstations, visitors will discover a wide array of software solutions addressing label and tag artwork, management, design and prepress, color management, workflow automation and process integration. With the release of Suite 12, Esko focuses on adding value for the user by introducing new productivity and efficiency benefits. This is done by closely integrating all flagship tools and engines, by adding rich 3D functionality for a holistic experience, and by enabling mobile collaboration and web-based packaging management.

Flint Group (booth 840) will be presenting its next generation technologies in narrow web print technology. It will be launching EkoCure, the first-ever UV LED ink technology designed for both UV Flexo and UV Rotary Screen applications. In addition, the company will formally launch CombiScreen, a UV Rotary Screen ink, with stunning color strength, excellent printability and perfected for combination printing.

Fujifilm (booth 5621) is displaying its new FLENEX DLE CTP system for flexo plates. The system is set to revolutionize the flexo market, offering an incredibly simple and high quality method of producing flexo plates. The combination of polymer plates and laser engraving technology significantly reduces labor and consumable costs in comparison to all current flexo plate technologies. It will also provide a much more environmentally friendly solution than existing technologies. The show also marks the launch of Fujifilm waterbase flexo inks which have optimized viscosity and pour-and-print characteristics.

Gallus (booth 5803) will be unveiling several new features such as automatic register control, hot-air drying and sheet delivery to its Gallus ECS 340 following its highly successful launch in 2009. In addition Gallus is collaborating with the Heidelberg Group companies CERM and CSAT to showcase the job-optimized manufacture of labels in a hybrid production environment, i.e. with digital and conventional machines and specialized workflow products. The Gallus Print Shop concept will demonstrate how digital and conventional printing processes can complement each other in label printing. Crucial support is provided by corresponding software products that are used to select the most suitable printing method for managing the entire process.

HP Indigo (booth 3223) will demonstrate new offerings for the industry’s best-selling digital labels and packaging solution, the HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press—a high-volume narrow web solution for producing any kind of labels, sleeves, tags, flexible packaging, tubes, and folding cartons with full flexibility. Using the new Enhanced Productivity Mode, the press produces the vast majority of label jobs with the industry’s new benchmark in quality at a record speed of 130 linear feet per minute, delivering the industry’s highest digital crossover point versus flexo.

MACtac (booth 143) will be showing a number of new products including a high performance prime paper, next generation pressure-sensitive printing solutions, and FSC certified adhesives.  Key industry leaders, from suppliers to converters to printers, will partner with MACtac to unveil a variety of advanced technologies and give attendees the chance to assess the performance and quality of these cutting-edge developments.

Martin Automatic (booth 811) is exhibiting the newest versions of two of its most popular machines, with running demonstrations of the MBS splicer and the LRD rewinder. The MBS butt splicer, the flagship of the Martin line of splicers for the label and narrow web markets, is known for its versatility in running a wide variety of substrates. The latest version comes standard with a package of features, including ultrasonic sidelay sensors and spiral grooved rollers, for unwinding and splicing many clear film structures.  Its updated LRD rewinder accommodates 800 mm diameter rolls in the standard model, with larger diameter models available.  Enhancements to the in-line slitter package enable quicker set-up, fine-tuning and change-over between jobs.

MPS (booth 927) is presenting four new products for the first time including iStrip its new and tension controlled stripping system. The iStrip technology allows the press to die-cut and strip matrix at very high press speeds. Believing that today’s market place has an intrinsic need to automate press settings in order to drive down the cost price per 1,000 labels, especially for short runs, MPS has introduced Automated Print Control (APC). APC stands for an automated servo control of all relevant press settings. Thanks to APC, also the die-cutting pressure is set automatically, is extremely easy to operate and replicated through job memory, resulting in virtually no set up waste, including die-cuttings.

RotoMetrics (booth 129) will be introducing multiple new products. Featured innovations include its AccuStar Flexible dies for ultra-thin PET film liners. The new addition has been developed to respond to the challenges of die cutting to 23 micron/.00092” PET liner material – and even thinner (.00075”) films.  It is also launching a radically new capability to die cut and clear cavities with diameters as small as 0.06" (1.5 mm).  The new Pin-Eject Solid Die gives converters new options to process designs with small cavities and multiple cavities on the die where spring-eject or vacuum solutions struggle.  In addition, the pin-eject technology solves internal part stripping problems encountered with pressure sensitive applications.

Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director, commented: “With so many product launches going on at this years’ Labelexpo Americas it demonstrates again that it is vital for converters and printers to attend the show to learn about and see first-hand the latest solutions available to the market. There is nowhere better to see the newest technology in action or meet key suppliers who can add true value to their business.”